Lamar County Middle School, July 23-25, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. All rising sixth graders must register for middle school on one of the assigned days. Bring child’s current shot record reflecting updated immunizations for sixth grade and one current proof of residency (electric bill, water bill, copy of lease agreement, rent receipt, copy of homeowner’s insurance policy). Information: 770-358-8652.

I love how our school systems are so accommodating! Who sets up these times? Does it occur to anyone in the school system that there are many parents out here who WORK! And that most of us working parents are not teachers.!!!!! So, please let us know how to handle your "mandatory registration" for those of us who leave before 9:00 am and get home after 4:00pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The above comment was NOT posted by Connie Walker. I, Abbie Bennett posted it. I am just frustrated that the schools do not seem to take into consideration those of us who work outside of this town or outside of the school system. I very much want to be involved and be a part of my children's education and sometimes it seems limiting.
Thank you,
Abbie

The time schedule certainly doesn't seem considerate of working people, does it?

The school system obviously thinks everyone is on welfare, unemployment, can take off work any time they like, or is a teacher who is off work all summer. 9-4 on a weekday is an exceptionally inconsiderate time window.

Like any other office or business that is opened from 8am until 4pm, I believe you would have to work around that schedule. If you needed to go to the Social Security office, the dentist, the library or any other place of business, would they stay past normal hours?

Do you think that teachers made this schedule?

Do you think that teachers do not work?

Do you think that teachers are not working parents that have or have had children going into the sixth grade?

What are you thinking?

As for the comment about teachers being off for the summer, their salaries are based on 10 month work year. If you would like to have the teachers work through the summer, are you willing to adjust their pay for this? Where would those additional funds come from?

What I find inconsiderate is that you expect the staff to stay and work additional hours without being compensated so that you do not need to be bothered to make an adjustment in your life to take care of your responsibilities as a parent.

Surely the school system, especially with many teachers off for the summer, could do something other than 9AM to 4:00 PM on just one Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in an entire year.

There is a huge difference between a business that is open five or six days a week 50 or 52 weeks a year, where someone could plan ahead, and a three-day seven hour per day mid-week window. They could at least stagger hours, if there is only three days out of 365, or 21 hours out of 8760, available.

Unfortunately, this schedule means working parents must take time off from work. A more considerate approach would be to schedule mandatory registration on different time segments. What's so hard to understand about that Michael? The school system has a tendency to treat parents like they're juveniles in detention.

I called several different local schools middle schools today including Pike, Butts and Spalding and not one of them has any registration after 4pm. Parents that work will have to take time off to fulfill their obligations to their children. If this was a “fun” activity like field day or awards day people would not be complaining about leaving work early.

What is so hard for me to understand about this? When will some people stop blaming the schools and step up and act like a parent?

It is funny to me that you compare a parent registering a child for school to being treating like a juvenile in detention.

Mr. Rauch,

Here we go again with comments about teachers.

Before you reply again please take a few minutes to research who in the school system sets the schedules and actually completes the registrations. Also, it would be helpful if you find out how a teachers pay is structured and why they do not work for two months.

Otherwise, you are just wasting every ones time.

As a final thought before I let this topic go, I for one fully support the staff of our school system and wish them well on the challenges that they face. I believe that baby setting parents should not be one of those challenges.

They have done this several years and do not care if the parents loose time from work to accommodate the school's agenda. I am glad my children are finished now. The Lamar County School system really needs an overhaul and to be more accommodating to the residents of the county. As someone said, we are not all on welfare sitting on our butts at home.

I know a number of teachers in other places, and they are surprised by this. Maybe the other local school systems commit this same stupid act, but in other parts of the country they do not. Maybe we should be leading Pike, Spalding, etc, rather than following their mistakes.

Why is it even mandatory to have "registration" when school is required by law? I know there was no such thing when I was in school. Granted that was a few years ago (cough, cough) but they were able to handle everyone's paperwork, etc without having a mandatory trip to school.

Also, maybe people would not complain so much if ANYTHING the school did was efficient. One of the most ludicrous things I've done in my life was register my son for pre-k at Lamar County. I told my friends in other towns/states, and they had a mighty good laugh at our expense.

I have NOTHING against the teachers. There are some very good teachers in this county. But they have the giant Truby Albatross around their necks.

Time for a new administration. And the next one should be smaller and more efficient. They don't teach, so why do they make so much more money than the teachers?
Charlie Muise